Ask a Shop Clerk: Alexis Baternel

Pull-In Underwear, 259 Bowery, nr. Houston St.; 212-777-3700

What’s the difference between French and American tastes in underthings?In Europe, our most popular prints are strawberries and stars. In the U.S., we have a lot of food prints—cupcakes, doughnuts, bananas.

Is that your way of telling Americans we’re fat?The prints play on American culture. There’s also a Brooklyn graffiti print and one with magazine cutouts for Fashion Week.

Who buys fashion underwear?Young people, mostly businessmen and -women. We’re not that cheap, so it’s usually someone who wants to splurge. A lot of women come in and say, “Wow, I want to see my man in this underwear.” It’s a good surprise gift.